Let’s face it. Our Military does a wonderful job but they can’t do it without their canine counterparts. So this Veterans Day – November 11, let’s celebrate these truly amazing fearless and loyal dogs. Both those currently working and those who have retired.
Mission K9 Rescue, an animal welfare group dedicated solely to rescuing, reuniting, rehoming, repairing, and rehabilitating American working dogs. Since 2013, the group has provided a wide array of services to working dogs in an effort to offer them a comfortable and peaceful retirement. Mission K9 focuses on retrieving dogs both from overseas and national shelter situations where they are suffering without proper care or medical attention.
Their fundraising efforts are tireless with the goal of bringing these dogs back from all over the world where they are stuck in kennels after retirement, and to provide medical care for working dogs who have worked like athletes their entire lives and now have injuries and health issues.
“It can be really costly to get them ready for adoption,” explains Mission K9 president Kristen Maurer.
“Plus, just like with two-legged soldiers, four-legged soldiers can come back with emotional issues, explains Maurer.
“Some of them have been isolated their entire life, and they need to learn how to get along with other dogs and people. They need special rehabilitation. These dogs were drafted into what they did; they didn’t choose it. They have selflessly given their lives to protect our soldiers, our first responders, and our citizens. And we feel like they deserve the best retirement we can give them.”
Mission K9’s work centers on the “5 Rs”:
- RESCUE– Mission K9 Rescue is committed to saving any and all CWDs (contractor working dogs) and MWDs (military working dogs), as well as any other working dog that may need help (such as retired police dogs). This work may include bringing them back from overseas or rescuing them out of a poor environment stateside.
- REUNITE– Mission K9 Rescue prioritizes reuniting retired working dogs with a past handler who is both interested in permanent adoption and has proven that they can offer a safe and loving home for the animal. Mission K9 sees to it that the dog is transported to their new home — often at great expense, due to the very limited number of airlines who agree to transport these dogs.
- RE-HOME– For any working dog who does not have a designated handler, Mission K9 Rescue works tirelessly to find the perfect loving home for the dog.
- REHABILITATE– Retired working dogs frequently come to Mission K9 from high-intensity and potentially traumatizing circumstances that have caused them severe anxiety and stress. Many retire with issues such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). These dogs need time to decompress and reintegrate into society. Mission K9 Rescue works with them as long as necessary to help them become suitable for adoption.
- REPAIR– Working dogs train like professional athletes their entire career. When they retire, they often have extensive, costly medical issues. Since these dogs don’t receive retirement benefits, Mission K9 Rescue raises the much-needed funding to assist handlers and/or adopters with medical bills.
Learn how you can help and more about these amazing canines at www.MissionK9Rescue.org.
